Today, December 24^th of 2020, the United Nations Development Program, together with the B2B Globe Initiative, handed over money and clothing items collected in the framework of the "Zombulukka Jol Jok!" charity event, dedicated to the 16-day campaign against gender-based violence. The certificate for 1,000 USD and a number of everyday clothes were handed over to the crisis center "Ak-Zhurok", which locates in Osh city.

The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Ak-Zhurok crisis center, B2B Globe, Aliza Soltonbekova, Minister of Labor and Social Development, and Erkin Kasybekov, UNDP Assistant Resident Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic. According to Erkin Kasybekov, "Provision of the support for crisis centers and organizations fighting gender-based violence remains a priority for UNDP, as gender equality and women's capacity building is one of the key program goals of the organization. Crisis centers provide significant assistance to women affected by violence and help them protect their rights, to gain the self-confidence and to start a new free from violence life."

“We sincerely thank all caring citizens who did not stand aside in this difficult time and made their contribution to support the crisis centers. This action showed how important it is to solve the problem of violence against women through joint efforts of the Government, international partners, civil society, the media and each of us,” said Aliza Soltonbekova.

The monetary funds and clothing items were raised through the sale of various household items, clothing, and flowers as part of the B2B Globe charity event supported by UNDP in frames of the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative in Kyrgyzstan. It is expected that the funds will be used to cover the crisis center’s main expenses, such the utilities bills payment and to purchase the household equipment. Clothing items will be handed over to the residents of the center.

The charity event "Zombulukka Jol Jok!" was conducted as part of a 16-day campaign against gender-based violence from November 12 through December 12, 2020 in Bishkek city.

Preliminarily about 100 people participated in the charity campaign. The organizers of the campaign highlighted the contribution of small businesses, represented by women entrepreneurs from design houses and clothing shops. The main goal of the campaign was to attract the public attention to the problem of gender-based violence and motivate citizens to contribute to the provision of psychosocial, legal and domestic support to women of Kyrgyzstan who have experienced violence.

In January 2020, in partnership with the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, the EU and UN have launched a multi-year country programme under the global Spotlight Initiative on eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls. The programme’s vision is to create an environment where all women and girls in Kyrgyzstan, particularly those most vulnerable, live a life free of violence and harmful practices, including child marriage and ala kachuu. The programme comprises a set of integrated interventions in the areas of policies and legislation, strengthening institutions, prevention of violence, provision of services to survivors of violence, collecting quality data, and supporting women’s movement and civil society. The programme is implemented by five UN agencies (UN Women, UNFPA, UNDP, UNICEF and UNODC) under the overall leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Photos from the handover ceremony